The Precast and Masonry Expo 2024 offered a wealth of insights into the future of construction and applications of precast concrete specifically.

As we look ahead, we will explore five future predictions we are confident will occur within the industry.

Decisions on the way we build future homes will be based on Whole Life Carbon assessment. 

The Future Homes Hub (FHH) introduced its Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool at the EXPO24, designed to help the housing industry measure and reduce Whole Life Carbon (WLC). This tool aids decision-making by showing developers how to optimise design choices across all lifecycle stages.

Supported by the MPA’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), the LCA tool will provide a clear view of how traditional construction can contribute to low-carbon homes.

The tool’s impact will become evident when the Future Homes Standard takes effect next year.

Carbon Capture and Storage will play a pivotal role in concrete decarbonisation.

At EXPO24, Phil Matthews of Heidelberg Materials discussed Evozero, the first commercially available Portland Cement made using Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS). Heidelberg’s Brevik plant in Norway will soon be the first to employ full-scale CCS technology, capturing CO₂ from cement production for permanent storage under the sea.

This innovation will halve the embodied carbon of clinker compared to current products, marking a crucial first step toward widespread CCS adoption in cement production across Europe and the UK, driving towards net-zero emissions.

The sector looks robust and uniquely positioned to supply locally sourced and manufactured products if housebuilding under Labour ramps up.

The NHBC also provided insights into the UK housing market, with announcements on Labour’s aim to reform planning and boost housebuilding over the coming year. 2024 has shown a renewed focus on sourcing construction materials locally, supported by MPA’s efforts to correctly classify masonry products as local, within 80km delivery distance, under the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment. With updated standards for 2025, it’s clear that traditional masonry construction will be essential for future homebuilding to avoid unsustainable timber imports.

The rise in multi-component cements will revolutionise concrete mixology in the precast and masonry sector.

Liam Forde of UK Concrete discussed updates to BS 8500, allowing ternary types of cement to further reduce concrete’s embodied carbon.

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), especially ternary blends with limestone, is growing in the precast sector.

The latest sustainability report shows SCM use at 25.7%, with a positive trend for the future. This progress reflects the expertise of concrete technologists in optimising mixes for both performance and decarbonisation.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already providing optimisations in precast concrete production and has the potential to do much more.

In Precast and Masonry magazine, Dr. Ross McWhirter of FP McCann discussed AI’s role in precast production. FP McCann uses AI-driven software to optimise the entire production process, from raw material inspection to quality assurance. Adopting such technologies will be crucial for manufacturers to stay competitive within an ever-evolving market.

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